Road users in the Tamale Metropolis of the Northern Region want authorities to fix non-functioning street lights to improve visibility and reduce road accidents.
Some persons who have been robbed at gunpoint at night in the Tamale Metropolis and the Sagnerigu Municipality also want the street lights fixed to reduce crime.
Street lighting is essential for both motorists and pedestrians, but it has almost become a luxury for road users in the Tamale Metropolis as most streets within the metropolis are without functional street lights.
A drive through some major streets revealed street light poles with faulty lamps.
Some lamps have been without lights for months yet city authorities look on.
For instance, the Tamale-Bolgatanga highway, the Industrial road through the Stadium Roundabout to Choggu, which usually sees long vehicles from neighbouring countries remains dark at night.
Even the stretch from the central business district to the Regional Coordinating Council, which is a ceremonial street, is begging for lighting.
Some drivers who use the road say there have been series of accidents involving pedestrians and motorists due to poor visibility.
Aminu Umar, a who spoke to Citi News while driving his family home said his brother is a victim of road accidents within the metropolis at night
“As I speak, recently my brother had an accident on this same road [Tamale-Bolgatanga stretch] due to the absence of the lights. He was riding from work at night and a motor King and yellow-yellow (tricycle) crashed into him. The situation is very disturbing, So we are appealing to the authorities to work on it [Street light] for us.
Aside from poor visibility and road accidents, the dark streets have offered an avenue for criminals. Some pedestrians who spoke to Citi News say they feel unsafe walking around at night.
For Hamid Mohammed a pedestrian, walking through the dark streets is not easy.
“…you see the place is dark? A lot of the street lights are not on, posing danger to us road users, it’s not safe too. We are pleading [with authorities] to fix the street lights” he said.